Tag: covenant

The Maccabees and T-Shirt Slogans

The Maccabees and T-Shirt Slogans

When i was a teen growing up in the foothills of Southern California, life was much different than today. The most advanced gaming system was a Nintendo. VCR’s were in competition with Beta Players, and cassette tapes were the method of choice for recording music. We listened to the radio all day hoping they would play our song at least once. Where i lived, life seemed slower, and communal. It wasn’t perfect but it felt like home.

The place i lived was a campground and it had T-Shirts that said, “Follow me to Follows Camp.” We wore them proudly every Friday night. To the skating rink, football games, or wherever a Friday night adventure would take us. We were as a pack of coyotes, loyal to each other, protective even. If one of us was in danger, or needed help, we were there. i remember one time some vandals mistreated a part of the campground. We called it the Little “Chapel of the Canyon.” We came together and we repaired it, good as new. “Follow me” was more than a catchy phrase for the campground it was a rallying cry of the community.

It was 167 B.C. The Maccabees, lead by the Priest Mattathias, and his sons, the main one being Judas, led a revolt. For what reason? Against the decree by King Antiochus IV Epiphanes that band covenant worship of Yahweh. King Antiochus IV, forced Hellenization on all the inhabitants of Jerusalem. Along with the surrounding area, now under the control of the Seleucid Empire. He desecrated the Temple in Jerusalem by sacrificing a pig on the altar. He outlawed, Sabbath observance, eating clean foods, daily sacrifices, essentially anything to do with Torah. Instead, he implemented Greek idol worship and killed any who resisted.

The Maccabees, lead by Judas, an expert in gorilla warfare, put on their “Follow Me,” t-shirts. They led a seven year military campaign for freedom. This is the origin of Hanukkah. Once they took out the Seleucid Empire, they tore down the idols, the pagan altar’s, and restored the Temple. Hanukkah is known as the Feast of Dedication, they rededicated the Temple of Yahweh and restored covenant worship.

In life we need community. We need a pack. We need a cause. In Ephesians we read Elohim’s heart, through Paul’s hand, on the matter. “Therefore remember that formerly you who are Gentiles in the flesh and called uncircumcised by the so-called circumcision. That done in the body by human hands. — Remember that at that time you were separate from Messiah. Alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of the promise. You were without hope and without Elohim in the world. But now in Messiah Yahoshua you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Messiah.” (Ephesians 2:11-13)

Before we come into Messiah we are alienated from the commonwealth and the covenants. But once we enter through Messiah we join ourselves to the people of promise becoming one. As the letter to the Ephesians continues Paul writes about this truth. “There is one body and one Spirit. Just as you were called to one hope when you were called. One Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all. Who is over all and through all and in all.” When we enter into fellowship with Messiah, we put on His clothes, His Follow Me t-shirts. As Paul also writes, “Imitate me as I imitate Messiah.”

What does it look like to be part of the covenants of promise? We need to read the Torah to find out. The entire volume of Messianic writings point to the Torah. Just as the Torah points to the Messiah. If you want the full communal experience, you must put on the fullness of truth, His Word is Truth! Unfortunately, not many religious leaders today believe this. Although, they say they believe in Jesus. They follow a misunderstood and twisted understanding of Paul’s writings. They don’t see themselves entering into the covenants of promise. Only that they will receive the promises based on the new covenant. Which if studied clearly say, that the new is simply the old written on the heart. It becomes a desire not a compulsion.

Instead of Hellenization like the Maccabees, it is assimilation. Rather, than standing out, they blend in. Instead of denouncing pagan traditions they sprinkle them into the churches. Instead of calling folks back to the covenants of promise, they tantalize people with empty promises. Why empty? Because the promises come in covenant. They come in obedience.

When the angel came to Mary to tell her she had been chosen her response teaches us a great truth. Belief is displayed in obedience. Luke records this encounter in which Gabriel, an angel of Yahweh, tells her she will give birth to the Messiah. Mary at first is frightened and confused but in the end she says, “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May it happen to me according to your word.” Yahoshua, Jesus, is birthed from the covenant of promise, and calls us back to it. “Yahoshua went on to say, ‘You neatly set aside the command of God to maintain your own tradition.'”

What traditions are in focus for you? Are you even seeking the Way? Yahoshua says to us, “Come and See,” He says to us, “Follow Me.” Who are you following? As for me, i will follow Yahoshua, the Way, the Truth, the Life, as He declared. The Word made flesh. Did you know that the Torah is known as The Way, Path, and Instruction? Did you know that the Torah, Elohim’s Word is called the Truth? Did you know that Life comes through every Word of Elohim? This is the Way of the Rabbi.

You are loved,
cj

Transforming Inconveniences into Adventures

Transforming Inconveniences into Adventures

Every morning I get an email from an online news organization. The purpose of the email is to highlight four or five top stories. At the top of the email they put a quote from someone to inspire reflection. This is actually the part of the email i look forward to the most. The other day the quote was from G.K. Chesterton. He said:

“An inconvenience is only an adventure wrongly considered;
an adventure is an inconvenience rightly considered.”

Recently my dad who just turned 83 years old took a train to New York City. Where he experienced an inconvenience with his luggage. i don’t know how baggage on trains work really. The last time i was on a train other than the one that circles Disneyland was many, many moons ago. i might have been 8. Anyway, at one of the stops along the way a lady grabbed my dad’s suitcase. Apparently hers looked very similar, so thinking it was hers she picked it up and exited the train. my dad was completely unaware of this occurring riding on and enjoying the scenery. That is until, he received a phone call. Surprisingly, it was the lady who mistakenly had taken his suitcase. Thankfully my dad had his name and number on the luggage tag. She apologized profusely. She was able to get the suitcase on the next train to Chicago where my dad had a layover. It arrived untouched for the most part before my dad continued his journey, now an adventure to New York.

my dad couldn’t really do anything but hope and wait. However, the lady with my dad’s bag had a task before her. Thankfully trains haven’t advanced much since their inception so they pretty much still work the same. Unlike many of the cumbersome safety protocols now associated with air travel. An unattended bag brought by a passenger on another flight? i don’t think this would have been an easy sell to airport security. Train security on the other-hand, seems right in line with baggage policy. Regardless, the lady seemed to have the situation well in hand. Obviously, living near the train station helped. She got all the way home before the discovery of the mistake. Apparently having some knowledge as to trains and how things work she talked to the right people. She made the appropriate arrangements. Which limited my dad’s inconvenience considerably. Hers on the other-hand, not so much. i wonder if she ever got her bag back since it was never in my dad’s possession he doesn’t know.

They say knowledge is power. It’s true. If you know how things work you can work things out. If you know where to gather information, information can be gathered. Information properly used can inform and educate. Wisdom is rightly using the information you gather, no matter how much or how little. What will you do with the information you gather? What will you do as you read through the posts of The Way of the Rabbi? What questions will you ask? What information will you seek? What knowledge will you put to power?

A young preacher, pastor of a small congregation of new believers was being encouraged by a veteran. There were some changes afoot within the faith. It was being called “new” but it wasn’t fully new. It was known and practiced, but there was a new understanding. There was an example given. There was explanations and clarifications. Still the source did not change immediately, nor should it have, even over time. Sources add, yes, but manuscripts deleted? Never! In a letter to the young preacher, the older, wiser, seasoned and tested instructor wrote the following words.

“But you must continue with the things you have learned and found convincing. You know who taught you. Since childhood you have known the holy scriptures. They help you to be wise in a way that leads to salvation through faith that is in Messiah Yahoshua. Every scripture is inspired by Elohim! It is useful for teaching, for showing mistakes, for correcting, and for training character. So that the person who belongs to Elohim can be equipped to do everything that is good.” (2 Timothy 3:14-17)

Paul was telling Timothy that all his questions had answers. Those answers, were found in his knowledge of the scriptures. Those scriptures were the Tanakh and the Torah. He reminded him that they will help him be wise. Even stated that within the scrolls of his childhood faith he would be led to faith in Messiah Yahoshua. The writings that were collected over time, like, this one to Timothy are great! Even “inspired by Elohim.” When used to supplement and support the Tanakh as Paul encourages, they are masterful. Life springs forth from the pages of the Gospel’s when you understand the culture in which they were written. Understanding and knowledge will be your friend. As you read through the illustration that the covenant went from stones to flesh. From written with a finger, to written in blood.

Nothing new was invented. It is the same. Knowledge leads you to understand that what has changed is associated with the atonement. The process in which one is cleansed. It went from a ritual performed by priests. To one sacrifice by the High Priest Yahoshua in the order of Melchizedek. The atonement kaphar (כָּפַר), closely connected with the word, Kippur (כִּפּוּר), which means to “cover over a wrong”. To תְּמוּרָה (temurah) which means to exchange. The priests could only cover ritual sacrifices. This was a shadow of the exchange coming in Messiah. Due to the Hellenization of the Israelite’s Greek was the language and that is where we get the term, antallagí (ανταλλαγή). We translate it atonement, which isn’t wrong but isn’t the full picture either. Yahoshua took our place, He doesn’t cover our sin, He wipes it away. He took it, exchanging His righteousness for our depravity. He who knew no sin became sin, so that we who were sin could be made whole in Him.

“An inconvenience is only an adventure wrongly considered; an adventure is an inconvenience rightly considered.” Don’t be discouraged by what some perceive to be inconvenient. Rather take on the adventure of knowing Elohim through the fullness of His Word. Build upon the foundational faith you have in Messiah Yahoshua by searching the Tanakh and the Torah. Do this in order to know Him better. Enter into covenant relationship with Yahoshua the living Word of Elohim. The Word says, “Elohim is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” If true, we must realize that what happened 2000 years ago was not new. It was a rebirth and an exchange written in red.

If things got easier like so many believe today every pew in every church would be full. But as Paul tells Timothy earlier in the same letter. “And indeed, all who want to live a life in Elohim, united with the Messiah Yahoshua will be persecuted, while evil people and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving others and being deceived themselves.” i hope you will explore more here at the way of the Rabbi. Unlock the curiosity to challenge your old way of thinking. Embrace The Way of the Rabbi Yahoshua.

This is the way of the Rabbi,
You are loved,
cj

Remnant (narrow is the way and few find it)

“And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.” Matthew 7:23
i wonder how many read this passage of Scripture and think that this is for the world and not those who think they are in the “Church.” Let’s look at the whole of this passage and break it down. “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Adonai, Adonai,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Adonai, Adonai, did we not prophesy in YOUR NAME, and in YOUR NAME cast out demons, and in YOUR NAME perform many miracles?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; DEPART ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.’ ” This passage of Scripture, if it doesn’t make you tremble, should at least admonish you to take Paul’s advice, “So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;” (Philippians 2:12).

Before we dive into what Adonai meant we need to understand what the title Adonai means? Well, first it is translated into English as Lord, and therefore defined as; a person who has authority, control, or power over others; a master, chief, or ruler. We use the term Lord mostly today which derives from the greek and comes from the root, BA’AL. This is why i like the to use Adonai, which comes from the Hebrew and is more fully translated as, “MY Master.” So according to Yahoshua, in the end, many will say to Him, “Adonai, Adonai!” These people coming to Him will recognize Him as their Master, their Lord. They continue to say, “didn’t we do . . .” They believe they were working in the Name of Yahoshua. Saul, later Paul, when he was persecuting the followers of the Way, before his conversion on the road to Damascus, thought he was doing the Will of Elohim. Yet, admittedly, he lacked true understanding of and relationship with YHWH. He was following mans tradition and not the Will of the Father in heaven. Today, likewise, many are following mans tradition and lack relationship with the Father and the Son. Yet, they strive in the name of . . .

To be a true disciple, one must walk in the way of the Rabbi, the Teacher. To put on Messiah. To become like him. Paul even says, “Imitate me as I imitate Messiah.” What did Messiah do? Only that which the Father said. Yahoshua is recorded as saying, “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” He also says, “Why do you call Me Adonai, Adonai, and not do what I command you?” i have said this a lot recently, but it is worth repeating, Yahoshua is the WORD of Elohim made flesh. He is the fullness of Torah, not the end of it. He is the example of Torah, not the abolishment of it. He came to live it out so that we could imitate Him not throw it out. He came to set the record straight. He admonished the religious leaders of His day for their man made traditions and rules and commands. He would do the same today.

Let’s look at Paul for a minute as he confesses his passion for his understanding of Elohim. “I myself was convinced that I ought to do many things in opposing the name of Yahoshua of Nazareth. And I did so in Jerusalem. I not only locked up many of the saints in prison after receiving authority from the chief priests, but when they were put to death I cast my vote against them. And I punished them often in all the synagogues and tried to make them blaspheme, and in raging fury against them I persecuted them even to foreign cities.” (Acts 26:9-11) ~ Here Paul tells us that his zeal for Elohim led him to persecute that which he did not understand. Even though he was versed in Torah, and the prophets. What he should have known he did not recognize because of his commitment to the Pharisaic traditions. This has been something religious leaders have done since the dawn of time, attempting to worship in their own way. Even with clear instruction not to.

Deuteronomy 4:1-2 ~ “And now, O Israel, listen to the statutes and the rules that I am teaching you, and do them, that you may live, and go in and take possession of the land that YHWH, the Elohim of your fathers, is giving you. You shall not add to the word that I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of YHWH your Elohim that I command you.”

Revelation 22:18-19 ~ “I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, Elohim will add to him the plagues described in this book, and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, Elohim will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.”

These warnings should be taken extremely serious. They are not just statements made in the wind but are reflective of the heart of Elohim who desires a personal relationship with his creation. Micah declares, “Does YHWH take delight in thousands of rams, In ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I present my firstborn for my rebellious acts, The fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does YHWH require of you But to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your Elohim ~ The voice of YHWH will call to the city And it is sound wisdom to fear HIS name:”

The first covenant with Israel was one of blood and stone. The new covenant is one of flesh and spirit. However, it is still with the house of Israel. “Behold, the days are coming, declares YHWH, when I will establish a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah, not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt. For they did not continue in my covenant, and so I showed no concern for them, declares YHWH. For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares YHWH: I will put MY laws into their minds, and write them on their hearts, and I will be their Elohim, and they shall be MY people.” This passage in Hebrews is from Jeremiah 31:31-34.

So if this new covenant is simply the old covenant written on the hearts of Israel and Judah, how do the Gentile nations become partakers? Paul writes to the Romans, “Rather through their [Israel and Judah] sin salvation has come to the Gentiles, so as to make Israel jealous.” And later he writes, “For if their rejection means the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance mean but life from the dead?” But by what means and for what purpose but to make salvation available to all as it was meant in the Torah! By being joined together with Israel, simply grafted in as Paul explains is this same letter to the Romans. “But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive, were grafted in among them and became partakers with them of the rich root of the olive tree, do not be arrogant toward the branches; but if you are arrogant, remember that it is not you who supports the root, but the root supports you.” There is no distinction of people but there is a distinction of those who are in covenant with YHWH. That is . . . we ‘SHEMA’ which means, hear and obey.

“Shema Israel, YHWH our Elohim is One. You shall love YHWH your Elohim with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.” It is with the heart that we love, with our soul we commit, with our mind we come to know and in our strength we serve. The two greatest commandments, love Elohim, and love our neighbor, this reveals the heart of the covenant. “You shall have no other gods before Me,” this reveals our commitment, much like the marriage covenant and why it is used as a symbol of our relationship to Messiah. We are told to meditate on His Word day and night, to know Him, is to love Him. Finally to serve Him with all we have and all we are for some everything comes easy because they have little. For others it is difficult because they have much.

This brings us back to the beginning. Narrow is the path that leads to life and few find it. “Why do you call me Adonai, Adonai, and not do as I command?” His command is the Torah, the unmistakable relationship covenant bound by our desire to keep in fellowship with our Creator. There are two paths, a religion that is based on mans tradition is the same as no religion at all which is to say without relationship. For can one truly say they know Elohim and yet forsake His Ways? But to be in covenant doesn’t mean perfection but it does mean holiness. It does mean striving. It does mean running the race to win, by training to run the race. Practice Torah, for it is the instruction manual, the guid book, to acting justly, loving mercy, and walking humbly with Elohim. Do not find yourself on the other end of the saying, “Depart from ME, I never knew you, you who practice lawlessness.”

This is the way of the Rabbi.
You are loved,
cj

Journey Update 3 Love

i have always said that love is a choice it is not an emotion or feeling. However, there are blocks to love which are emotions, and feelings based on experience unforgiveness, anger, and hurt. The opposite is also true, good experiences and positive emotions and feelings like joy, happiness, and forgiveness. These are gateways that make choosing love easy. The devil does his best to accuse Elohim in our hearts. To get you to be angry at Him and others. Satan knows this well. If he can make you angry and dwell in hurt, your heart will harden. Then, choosing love will be nearly impossible. Because love blossoms out of forgiveness.

Humanity is a willing, unwilling, and unaware participant in Satan’s plan. So it’s easy to be angry even cynical of all of this . . . the world, politics, family, friends, life. Yet, even with such an advisory we are told to love. When Yahoshua was asked what the greatest commandment was He said, “30 Love YHWH your Elohim with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:30-31) He was referencing Deuteronomy 6:5 and Leviticus 19:18.

The definition of love found in a dictionary is unbelievably mangled. As it will define it from loving one’s family, pet, or food, to intercourse, and a love affair. This definition is why society is so lost. We have taken the very thing Elohim rates at the top of His list for humanity and we have diluted it in a cesspool. There are different words for love within the recorded texts of Scripture, Storge, Phileo, Eros, and Agape. (The following definitions are from the website Biblestudytools.com)

  1. Storge: Storge love is the care that exists between family members, friends, or companions. Longer-lasting, it goes beyond an initial infatuation or attraction. Built on a familiarity between people, the emphasis of storge is on devotion and intimacy that develops over time.
  2. Phileo: Phileo most often describes a relationship between people, one of generous warmth for another. But in a broader sense, it can also apply to churches and even cities. The basis of this common bond is shared beliefs, values or interests.
  3. Eros: Eros love is a the kind of affection meant to describe a healthy, sensual love between husband and wife. Romance and physical attraction play a part in it. God [Elohim] gave us this kind of desire with the clear instruction to express it only within the bonds of marriage.
  4. Agape: Agape love is probably the most talked about of the four kinds of love. It is the highest, most complete form of affection. God’s [Elohim’s] love for us is the foundation of this love. And Jesus [Yahoshua] gave us many lessons about and examples of agape – a strong, selfless and sacrificial love – during His earthly ministry.

Based on the greatest commandment to Love [Agape] Elohim with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. And the second love [Storge/Phileo] your neighbor you can see how this becomes more of a choice than an emotion. One must choose to love and in order to choose love, one must remove the obstacles that would hinder the ability to love as commanded.

If human love flows from forgiveness then perhaps this is why Yahoshua prayed, “forgive us our sins as we forgive . . .” those who trespass or are in debt to us so that we can love. Divine love flows from gratitude. Therefore it requires counting our blessings. However, if Satan can make you miserable, unforgiving, and fearful, it becomes nearly impossible to love your neighbor. He creates doubt and grievances, making it hard to love your enemy. Not to mention it makes it challenging to love Elohim with every fiber of your being.

i am not dismissing the difficulty in forgiveness, especially when one has been hurt, emotionally, physically, or both. i am not dismissing the difficulty in forgiving one’s self for failure. It is challenging to forgive oneself for hurting someone emotionally or physically. Experiencing loss tragically or unexpectedly adds to the difficulty. For all the barriers of choosing love, choosing forgiveness is the hardest. It isn’t just forgiving others, one must also forgive themselves. Satan works extremely hard to get one to believe they are not deserving of forgiveness. This belief makes one feel as if they are unlovable. This internal struggle stems from ones heart whether anger, fear, hurt, or trauma. And if one is unloved or unlovable, it is nearly impossible for them to love others.

Here is the good news, in Yahoshua Messiah, there is forgiveness for He loves you! One only needs to recognize that in Yahoshua there is the fullness of Agape love. It is complete with forgiveness, and then accept it. If you can understand this then you are on the road to wholeness. i have found that when one truly seeks to Agape Elohim with their whole heart, soul, mind, and strength it becomes necessary to evaluate life from HIS perspective.

If all of the law and the prophets (what we call the Old Testament). Hangs on these two, love Elohim and love your neighbor. Knowing what that means from the beginning is vital. Micah 6:8 says, “Mankind, he has told each of you what is good and what it is the YHWH requires of you: to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your Elohim.” If Elohim is the same yesterday, today, and forever, learning His ways as one grafted into Israel is a sign of affection. it is Agape. As a member of Israel by way of graft i am part of the new covenant which is spelled out in Jeremiah and Hebrews.

Jeremiah 31:31-34 —
31 Look, the days are coming” — this is YHWH’s declaration — “when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah. 32 “This one will not be like the covenant I made with their ancestors on the day I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt — my covenant that they broke even though I am their husband”— YHWH’s declaration. 33 “Instead, this is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after those days” — YHWH’s declaration. “I will put my teaching within them and write it on their hearts. I will be their Elohim, and they will be my people. 34 “No longer will one teach his neighbor or his brother, saying, ‘Know YHWH,’ for they will all know me, from the least to the greatest of them” — this is YHWH’s declaration. “For I will forgive their iniquity and never again remember their sin.”

Hebrews 8:7-13 —
7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion for a second one. 8 But finding fault with his people, he says: “See, the days are coming, says YHWH, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah —9 not like the covenant that I made with their ancestors on the day I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt. I showed no concern for them, says YHWH, because they did not continue in my covenant. 10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says YHWH: I will put my Torah into their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their Elohim, and they will be my people. 11 And each person will not teach his fellow citizen, and each his brother or sister, saying, “Know YHWH,” because they will all know me, from the least to the greatest of them. 12 For I will forgive their wrongdoing, and I will never again remember their sins.13 By saying a new covenant, he has declared that the first is obsolete. And what is obsolete and growing old is about to pass away.”

The old covenant written on tablets and parchment. It has been rewritten on the hearts and the minds of the people of Elohim. The prophets taught the people to obey the very Torah. Yahoshua, the WORD made flesh, also taught His disciples to obey it. This Torah is written on the heart and mind of the people of Elohim. If we love Him we will obey Him, we are not a people of lawlessness but a people of Elohim. Set apart and marked by His covenant and sealed with the signs of His commandments, His feasts, His Torah.

i am forgiven, learning to forgive myself, learning to forgive others . . . Choosing to love Elohim and my neighbor. Learning to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with my Elohim. Agreeing with the accuser, satan, as he accuses me before the Father. Yet, holding fast to my Advocate, my High Priest, my Savior, Yahoshua Ha’Mashiah.

You are loved,
cj